I graduated high school with a 3.5 gpa and did poorly on the ACT (22). Long story short, I ended up at a public cal state school and am a major in psychology
I would like to know how possible it is for me to attend an ivy league grad school, and whether or not it is easier to get into an ivy league school as grad or undergrad? I’m only a freshman right now but I’m wondering if it would hurt my chances if I didn’t go to an ivy league school as an undergrad. I’m also concerned about extracurriculars, and whether or not they matter more or less to graduate programs … I plan on taking on a part time job to help my family out and pay for school and am worried participating in a ton of extracurriculars at school could be more harmful than helpful. I am thinking about doing research at school but not sure how this works and what year to do it in?
I am particularly interested in Clinical psychology programs , especially at Yale seeing as how they have one of the best ones. Please let me know any other grad schools, especially ivy league, that have great programs for this , and the acceptance rates if possible
I am also very concerned about GRE scores … As you can probably tell by my ACT score, I am a very bad test taker , especially when it comes to math
@nicomar - Welcome to the Forum. You are a Freshman. Focus on getting good grades in college and not on whether you can get into a graduate program 4 years from now. It is good to have aspirations but as you progress in your major and learn more about the field you are interested in, you will realize that there are lots of good programs out there. Not just the ones in those highly selective programs that everyone knows about.
In order to get into ANY graduate program, you will need to have a strong GPA, research experience, and strong letters of reference. Yes the GRE is important and you will have to prepare to do well in that. Right now though you need to take the most rigorous course work you can, get good grades and enjoy your time as an undergraduate. Extra curricular activities are not important for graduate school but they can enrich your college years and give you valuable experience in leadership.
You’re a freshman. You are just beginning college. While it’s not too early to think about graduate school, it’s far too early for you to be narrowing down schools, fixating on specific programs, and worrying about the GRE.
If you think you may be interested in a psychology PhD, concentrate now on taking the introductory psychology courses and exploring the potential for starting some research experience. Research experience is VERY important for psychology PhDs. Starting in your sophomore year will put you ahead of the curve. If you find a good opportunity in second semester, that’s excellent. Usually, this works by you assisting a professor at your college who is doing research in the psychology (or a closely related) department. Check out your college’s psych department website; they usually list the kind of research that professors do. If something seems interesting to you, try taking a class with that professor or visiting their office hours. After you establish a relationship, you can ask about the potential for RA opportunities in their labs/research groups. Some university psych departments have lab previews where undergrads can learn about the kind of experience different labs offer.
Similarly, you can begin exploring volunteering in a hospital’s psychiatry department or a mental health clinic, as those are also activities psychology programs look for. But don’t be afraid to switch gears if you realize something else is a better fit for you. Other kinds of extracurriculars don’t really matter for graduate school - but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them! If you find ones that are fun or interesting, go ahead and do that. (Don’t do “a ton”, but a few is good.)
For graduate school, especially, don’t fixate on “Ivy League” or any other grouping that made sense in undergrad. Graduate school is a whole different ballgame, and the best program in your field may not be at an Ivy. As a freshman, it’s especially important to avoid fixating because your eventual graduate program (for a PhD) should be chosen on the basis of your research interests. If you don’t have any research experience yet, then you can’t begin to opine what grad programs might be a good fit for you.
Your HS GPA is completely irrelevant to graduate admissions. And Cal State grads can go off to some great schools. I have a couple colleagues I know who went to Cal States. One went to CSUN, got her PhD in clinical psychology, and is now a director of a mental health clinic. Another was in my PhD program at Columbia.